To the Editor: Why should dog park be granted dispensation to drill well?

October 10, 2013

To the Editor:

My family and I moved to Gaylord in 1948, after having vacationed at Otsego Lake from the time I was 2 months old. My dad opened a business on South Otsego Avenue called Lindsteadt and Son.

One of the things that always impressed me about Gaylord was the problem-solving spirit shown by local businessmen in town.

For example, there were only two drug stores in town at that time, Nelson’s and Fitzek’s. Both were closed on Sunday. Since this posted hardship on people in need of prescriptions, they decided, on their own initiative, to take turns staying open on alternate Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. (Local vets, take note!)

Another example: At the time, there were only enough residents within the city limits to support two liquor licenses. Mary’s Tavern had one. Again, in the spirit of working things out, the Sugar Bowl and Rendezvous Restaurant (now Timothy’s Pub) split the license — six months each.

One more thing. When city water became available to everyone within the city limits, property owners were forced to go to city water whether they wanted to or not — even if they had a working well. Why, then, should the new dog park be granted a dispensation to drill their own well within the city limits today?